Non-alcoholic theophylline product

ABSTRACT

An improved liquid vehicle for a pharmaceutical composition of a mixture of propylene glycol and glycerine, a novel pharmaceutical composition of theophylline and this vehicle, comprising a composition which serves to solubilize the theophylline without ethyl alcohol, and the process for making the vehicle and the pharmaceutical composition are disclosed.

United States Patent 1191 Behrakis NON-ALCOHOLIC THEOPHYLLINE PRODUCT [75] Inventor: George D. Behrakis, Lowell, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Dooner Laboratories, Inc.,

Haverhill, Mass.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 348,076

3,309,271 3/1967 Georges 424/253 Dec. 23, 1975 9/1969 Mercer et a]. 424/253 4/1973 Klingler 424/253 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Husas Pharmaceutical Dispensing, 6th edition, 1966, pp. 273-277.

Primary Examiner-Norman A. Drezin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James I-I. Wallace, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An improved liquid vehicle for a pharmaceutical composition of a mixture of propylene glycol and glycerine, a novel pharmaceutical composition of theophylline and this vehicle, comprising a composition which serves to solubilize the theophylline without ethyl alcohol, and the process for making the vehicle and the pharmaceutical composition are disclosed.

1 Claim, No Drawings NON-ALCOHOLIC THEOPHYLLINE PRODUCT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a novel vehicle for pharmaceuticals, which improves the absorption of the active agent in the alimentary tract. More particularly, the invention concerns improved liquid pharmaceutical compositions of theophylline which solubilize the theophylline without ethyl alcohol and provide a stable solution.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been long established that theophylline (1,3- dimethylxanthine), its salts and other derivatives, ex hibit bronchodilator, diuretic, analeptic, cardiac stimulant and coronary dilator properties. Therefore, compositions which include the type of compounds as the above agent have been used for the treatment in human patients of bronchiospasm, cardiac asthma, and as a diuretic, and in the veterinary field as an asthma remedy and heart stiumlant for animals.

Such compositions are administered to humans orally, rectally or parenterally. However, because rectal administration may produce local irritation and parenteral administration is often painful and sometimes dangerous, theophylline is commonly taken orally.

. This method of introduction into the human system, as is common with many other powerful drugs, also has several disadvantages in view of the active substances irregular absorption pattern, poor solubility and the tendency of the active ingredient or its carriers to irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting. Thus, it is frequently difficult to' orally administer a sufficiently large dose of the agent to provide the desired therapeutic effect. Therefore, there is a need for an oral dosage from which will produce prompt effective concentrations of theophylline in the blood, maintain such concentrations, and produce minimal gastric irritation.

Various attempts have been made to overcome this difficulty by forming salts and complexes of theophylline with other compounds such as aluminum hydroxide, glucamine, sodium acetate. But this has not proved to be a satisfactory solution. The solubility is apparently improved only for alkaline conditions. Moreover, the active compound may even precipitate in the acidic environment of the stomach. Since these forms vary from about 49% to 80% of pure theophylline, higher dosages are needed to obtain adequate theophylline blood levels. Once dosage is increased, the common complaints associated with theophylline and its associated carriers are encountered, e.g., gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, and overall discomfort.

Another approach taken is the use of ethanolic solutions to solubilize theophylline. This offered some improvement with better gastric tolerance and more prompt and adequate absorption of theophylline. The consensus generally had been that it was necessary to use alcohol to solubilize theophylline and that without alcohol, theophylline would be unstable and too poor an absorbent to be therapeutically effective. These solutions generally contain a high concentration of alcohol (from (30 proof) to (40 proof) ethyl alcohol. Accordingly, they cause problems in administration for children and for those unwilling or unable to ingest significant amounts of alcohol. Particularly with respect to children, who might need such medications for long periods of time, solutions containing alcohol are difficult to administer and represent a risk to the childs liver and general health. The term alcohol is not used in the generic sense but is intended to refer only to monohydroxy lower alkyl compounds such as ethanol, which is what the public considers as alcohol.

Descriptions of prior embodiments and methods can be found in the following patents: US. Pat. Nos. 2,975,099; 3,109,773; 3,109,775; 3,309,271; 3,467,754; 3,600,390; 3,632,742; Australia Pat. No. 261,738.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a non-alcoholic theophylline dosage form having a sufficiently high concentration of theophylline without causing gastric distress.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oral dosage form of theophylline which will offer bioavailability and increased toleration and acceptance by chilcess of making the vehicle, which improves the stability and absorption of active therapeutic agents generally. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved liquid vehicle for theophylline and the process for making the vehicle.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the present invention, an aqueous mixture of propylene glycol and glycerin have been found to be an effective liquid vehicle for a therapeutically active agent.

The active ingredient for treatment of bronchial and cardiac asthma in the novel compositions of the invention is theophylline, its salts, complexes or derivatives thereof.

These compounds include theophylline-ethylenediamine (aminophylline), theocin soluble (theophyllinesodium acetate), oxytocphylline (choline theophyllinate), theophylline-choline and 7-hydroxyethyltheophylline.

The process according to the invention includes the mixing of a solution of the active agent suspended in glycerin with propylene glycol. Of course, various sweetening, flavoring, and coloring agents are preferably employed in preparing oral dosage forms of the present type.

The pharmaceutical composition thus resulting is an oral dosage form of pure theophylline without alcohol which is stable at room temperature. The preferred form of theophylline is anhydrous in this composition, although other forms could be used by adjustment to correspond to differing molecular weights.

The key ingredients in the solubilizing vehicle are propylene glycol (about 20%) and glycerine (about 3 10%). These maintain physical stability in variations of temperature.

It had previously been believed that the therapeutically effective dosage level of theophylline was about 2-3 mg./kg. of body weight. However, recent scientific opinion holds that about 4-5 mg./kg. of body weight is desirable. The individual dosage of the oral theophylline for an adult is about 45cc, or 3 tablespoons, taken three times a day, with an additional 2 tablespoons at night. This may be increased for severe asthmatic attacks up to 5 tablespoons, but is limited for children to about a teaspoonful per pounds of body weight.

Specific dosage generally varies with body weight, metabolism, and other individual characteristics.

In order to illustrate the present invention the following example is provided.

EXAMPLE The following example shows the ingredients used, methods of preparation, and therapeutic results obtained from the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Ingredients A quantity of the preferred embodiment was prepared from the following ingredients:

Unit Amount/ (PFC 8432) (Polak Frutal Works) Purified H O QS Method of Preparation The above ingredients were prepared as follows:

1. The appropriate amounts of sodium benzoate, methyl paraben, sodium saccharin and citric acid are dissolved in heated purified water at a temperature from about 60-70C (Solution 1).

4 2. The theophylline is separately suspended with gentle agitation in heated glycerine at a temperature of 65-70C (Solution 2).

3. Solution 2 is then dissolved in propylene glycol, previously heated to 65-70C, with gentle mixing while maintaining the temperature at 6570C until the resulting mixture becomes completely clear, after which time the mixing is continued for about 10 minutes.

4. Solution 2 is then mixed with Solution 1.

5. A heated sorbitol solution of about C is added with stirring.

6. The FDC yellow No. 6 and FDC red No. 3 are dissolved in purified water and added to the above mixture.

7. The mixture is cooled to 38C before adding flavor and bringing to final volume with purified water.

8. The resulting syrup is cooled for a day and then filtered through a filter press at 30-40 psi. The mixture should have a pH of about 4.5 to maintain stability.

Results obtained The efficacy and acceptability of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown in recent studies. For example, children ranging in ages between 8-12 suffering from asthma wheezing on a day-to-day basis were treated. Pulmonary function tests show improvement in overall condition. Blood serum concentration was also measured. Good blood levels were obtained, i.e., about 5 micrograms/ml. or greater in 15 to 30 minutes, and, in a few cases, in 5 minutes. The blood levels remained for up to 6 hours some as long as 8 hours. A blood concentration of 5 micrograms/ml. of theophylline is generally accepted by the art as a therapeutic concentration.

While one particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and intended to be covered by Letters Patent is:

l. A non-alcoholic composition for the treatment of bronchiospasm, cardiac asthma and as a diuretic consisting essentially of an effective amount of anhydrous theophyllin and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle consisting essentially of 20% propylene glycol and 10% glycerine and water. 

1. A NON-ALCOHOLIC COMPOSITION FOR THE TREATMENT OF BRONCHIOSPASM, CARDIAC ASTHMA AND AS A DIURETIC CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF ANHYDROUS THEOPHYLLIN AND A PHARMACEUTICALLY ACCEPTABLE VEHICLE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF 20% PROPYLENE GLYCOL AND 10% GLYCERINE AND WATER. 